As I outlined in the first part of this series, reliable and high-quality connectivity is vital to the success of any M2M solution provider. In order to correctly configure and provision M2M devices (fixed or mobile) to connect to the best network coverage available, it is important the provider be able to collect and analyze specific intelligence about wireless networks. In the second part of the series, I will address the two types of network intelligence most important to an M2M solution provider: network coverage and network status.

Network coverage data usually includes operator name, network mode, geographic area, specific network technologies (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G), and even such data as Cell ID. Collecting network coverage intelligence for analysis can be accomplished in a variety of ways. One method is to gain access to proprietary network coverage data made available from an operator to its partners. Another means of collecting network coverage data involves the time-consuming process of going to each operator’s marketed network coverage maps. There are, however, some automated SaaS solutions available to M2M solution providers today that allow them to retrieve available network coverage from a maintained coverage database based on specific criteria.